==As a group answer the following questions. Write your response after each question. Each group member can answer, change, and add to the response. ----
==
Why does the author use a “good” day as the subject of the novel?
The author uses a “good” day for the basis of the novel rather than a bad one to prevent leading the reader into thinking that all there was to camp life was punishment and pain. Many times novels relating to prison camps mention the negative aspects: backbreaking labor, punishment, and death. This novel however, focuses on what camp life on a normal day was like: prisoners who wanted to help you, a not unbearable day of work, and getting some victories over the system along the way (such as smuggling in the blade on page 104 and swiping the extra bowls of porridge on pages 61 and 62).
How is personal pride or dignity linked to material wealth in the camp? Is material wealth the only means of preserving personal pride or dignity? Why or why not? Explain how those prisoners who maintained their personal pride or dignity accomplish this. ----
When coming into the camp...some prisoners are based on social status and wealth which is the exact opposite the Soviets are trying to say witht heir banner of equlity. Prisoners can recieve respect with how well they do their work and with leadership skills within their group.
Shukhov believes that personal pride or dignity is necessary for long-term survival. Give a few specific examples that defend or refute his belief.
In the end, maintaining personal pride is vital to long-term survival. A scavenger rarely gets what he is begging for, as can be seen with the example of cigarettes on pages 25. He can also, as the Captain says on page 41, contract syphilis from doing things that are unsanitary, such as smoking cigarettes off of the ground.
Under what circumstances do the ethnic difference seem to dissolve within the camp?
It seems that when there is a lot of work to do, the ethnic differences in the novel disappear. For instance, when building the wall at the power station, it didn’t matter that members of the squad came from Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, and Russia, just that they all needed to accomplish a common goal as easily as possible.
Identify the prisoners who were corrupt by power given to them by the institution.
The barber, bookkeeper, C.E.D. workers, and other zeks who had “soft jobs in the camp” were corrupted by the power give to them. On page108, these trusties were “shoving into the head of the [package] line without even a pardon me.”
Draw an organizational chart that reflects the chain of command within the novel.
Concept Tracing
For each section in the novel, trace the development of the following concepts – work, authority, and survival. As you trace them, begin to analyze the significance of the concepts. If someone already posted “your idea,” try to add something to it. Don’t simply post the same thing. You may edit, add to, revise, etc. your group’s page only.
Work
Authority
Survival
Section 1: page 1-28
For Shukhov, work is the best
means of getting ahead in the
camp. He usually wakes up early
to see if he could work for a
little extra money or food. He
earned extra money "by sewing
a pair of mittensfor someone out
of old sleeve lining; or bringing some
rich loafer in the squad his lenki---
right up to his bunk..." (page 4).
However, when it comes to doing
workd for the guards, it's a different
story. His philosophy for this is
just make it look good. On page
12 it says, "When you worked for
the knowing you gave them quality;
when you worked for a fool you
simply give him eyewash.
The Authority in the camp
(the guards) are portrayed
as mean and selfish,
which is probably very
close to being accurate.
On pages 7-9, Ivan is
punished by a guarf for
sleeping in a couple of
minutes late. However,
rather than giving him the
normal puishment of
solitary confinement, he
has him was the floor of
the guardhouse. However,
Shukhov is getting the
guards' feet wet, so
being selfish like they are,
they tell him not to wash
it.
According to Shukhov, the secret to survival
was:
1. To follow the advice suggested under
WORK, to not do work at top quality, but
to make it look good. He says that,
"Otherwise, everyone would have croaked
long ago" (pg. 12)
2. Not to be do unsanitary things in order to
get a little extra food. According to Shukhov's
first squad leader, Kuziomin, "The ones that
don't make it are those who lick other men's
leftovers..."
Section 2: page 29-57
The prisoners at the camp
were forced to work.
Their work consisted of
moving sand and stone
at freezing temperatures.
They would move these
supplies in order to make
boarding houses to live in.
Everyone was forced to work
or they would not only suffer,
but also freeze in the snow.
Authority over the prisoners was very important.
There were structured ranks for authority.
It consisted of guards, checkers,
sergeants and lieutenants. Those in charge used their
authority to punish others.
Tiurin tells Ivan’s
squad that the labor that they are going
to do must be accomplished.
Ivan's squad works at the power
station putting up windows to keep
the room warm. Then, Tiurin does a
work report
which has a big impact on the squad
because their food is proportioned to
the amount of labor that they produce.
Survival at the camp was dependent
on how much work that you did.
So if you worked hard then you
would be rewarded with a lot of rations.
Their work on the building and
shoveling snow, etc. kept them warm in
the cold and when they finished
working they were allowed to sit
next to the stove to warm up.
Keeping some bread in your pockets
was a common method of not starving
in this camp. Ivan was an example of
this. After he finished his work, he sat down and ate.
Section 3: page 58-86
Section 4: page 87-116
Section 5: page 117-142
Shukhov in this chapter, hides Tsezars bag full of food successfully during a body count by the warden Snub nose. He escapes being thrown in the hut, finds a blade to make a knife, and bought tobacco. Besides that he somewhat finds his spirtual side form Alyoshka who tells him to pray for spirtual healing instead of material gifts such as more rations. Shukhov admires his generosity to everyone in the camp and almost has a good day.
Snub nose
detects that Tyurin and his crew have been possessing forbidden items. He tells them to write written explanaton and Tyurin tells him they are illeterate. Snub nose sends Buynovsky to the hole for ten days' punishment. Tyurin scared that the warden will find his bag full of food during the body count goes to shukhov, shukhov tells him to be the last to leave and keep the bag inside till he comes back in first and guards it. Both shukhov and tyurin get away with it.
Hiding the food, Tyrin telling the warden they are illiterate. Spirtuality that Alyoshka gives Shukhov.The trust that tyrin has in Shukhov
, with lending him his bag and going back to hide the food.
One Day in the Life of Ivan Denisovich
==As a group answer the following questions. Write your response after each question. Each group member can answer, change, and add to the response. ----
==
- Why does the author use a “good” day as the subject of the novel?
The author uses a “good” day for the basis of the novel rather than a bad one to prevent leading the reader into thinking that all there was to camp life was punishment and pain. Many times novels relating to prison camps mention the negative aspects: backbreaking labor, punishment, and death. This novel however, focuses on what camp life on a normal day was like: prisoners who wanted to help you, a not unbearable day of work, and getting some victories over the system along the way (such as smuggling in the blade on page 104 and swiping the extra bowls of porridge on pages 61 and 62).- How is personal pride or dignity linked to material wealth in the camp? Is material wealth the only means of preserving personal pride or dignity? Why or why not? Explain how those prisoners who maintained their personal pride or dignity accomplish this. ----
When coming into the camp...some prisoners are based on social status and wealth which is the exact opposite the Soviets are trying to say witht heir banner of equlity. Prisoners can recieve respect with how well they do their work and with leadership skills within their group.- Shukhov believes that personal pride or dignity is necessary for long-term survival. Give a few specific examples that defend or refute his belief.
In the end, maintaining personal pride is vital to long-term survival. A scavenger rarely gets what he is begging for, as can be seen with the example of cigarettes on pages 25. He can also, as the Captain says on page 41, contract syphilis from doing things that are unsanitary, such as smoking cigarettes off of the ground.- Under what circumstances do the ethnic difference seem to dissolve within the camp?
It seems that when there is a lot of work to do, the ethnic differences in the novel disappear. For instance, when building the wall at the power station, it didn’t matter that members of the squad came from Latvia, Estonia, Ukraine, and Russia, just that they all needed to accomplish a common goal as easily as possible.- Identify the prisoners who were corrupt by power given to them by the institution.
The barber, bookkeeper, C.E.D. workers, and other zeks who had “soft jobs in the camp” were corrupted by the power give to them. On page108, these trusties were “shoving into the head of the [package] line without even a pardon me.”Concept Tracing
For each section in the novel, trace the development of the following concepts – work, authority, and survival. As you trace them, begin to analyze the significance of the concepts. If someone already posted “your idea,” try to add something to it. Don’t simply post the same thing. You may edit, add to, revise, etc. your group’s page only.means of getting ahead in the
camp. He usually wakes up early
to see if he could work for a
little extra money or food. He
earned extra money "by sewing
a pair of mittensfor someone out
of old sleeve lining; or bringing some
rich loafer in the squad his lenki---
right up to his bunk..." (page 4).
However, when it comes to doing
workd for the guards, it's a different
story. His philosophy for this is
just make it look good. On page
12 it says, "When you worked for
the knowing you gave them quality;
when you worked for a fool you
simply give him eyewash.
(the guards) are portrayed
as mean and selfish,
which is probably very
close to being accurate.
On pages 7-9, Ivan is
punished by a guarf for
sleeping in a couple of
minutes late. However,
rather than giving him the
normal puishment of
solitary confinement, he
has him was the floor of
the guardhouse. However,
Shukhov is getting the
guards' feet wet, so
being selfish like they are,
they tell him not to wash
it.
was:
1. To follow the advice suggested under
WORK, to not do work at top quality, but
to make it look good. He says that,
"Otherwise, everyone would have croaked
long ago" (pg. 12)
2. Not to be do unsanitary things in order to
get a little extra food. According to Shukhov's
first squad leader, Kuziomin, "The ones that
don't make it are those who lick other men's
leftovers..."
were forced to work.
Their work consisted of
moving sand and stone
at freezing temperatures.
They would move these
supplies in order to make
boarding houses to live in.
Everyone was forced to work
or they would not only suffer,
but also freeze in the snow.
There were structured ranks for authority.
It consisted of guards, checkers,
sergeants and lieutenants. Those in charge used their
authority to punish others.
Tiurin tells Ivan’s
squad that the labor that they are going
to do must be accomplished.
Ivan's squad works at the power
station putting up windows to keep
the room warm. Then, Tiurin does a
work report
which has a big impact on the squad
because their food is proportioned to
the amount of labor that they produce.
on how much work that you did.
So if you worked hard then you
would be rewarded with a lot of rations.
Their work on the building and
shoveling snow, etc. kept them warm in
the cold and when they finished
working they were allowed to sit
next to the stove to warm up.
Keeping some bread in your pockets
was a common method of not starving
in this camp. Ivan was an example of
this. After he finished his work, he sat down and ate.
detects that Tyurin and his crew have been possessing forbidden items. He tells them to write written explanaton and Tyurin tells him they are illeterate. Snub nose sends Buynovsky to the hole for ten days' punishment. Tyurin scared that the warden will find his bag full of food during the body count goes to shukhov, shukhov tells him to be the last to leave and keep the bag inside till he comes back in first and guards it. Both shukhov and tyurin get away with it.
, with lending him his bag and going back to hide the food.